How Many Times Can a Bailiff Visit?

We understand that dealing with a bailiff company can be a scary time. You may be worried about visits to your home, losing your things, or talking with the bailiffs. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Each month, over 170,000 people like you visit our site to get answers to their debt questions.

In this article, we will explain:

•  How many times a bailiff can visit your home.
•  What a bailiff’s job is and what they can do.
•  What to do when a bailiff visits.
•  How to check if a bailiff is real.
•  Ways to stop bailiffs from visiting your home.

StepChange found that 90% of people who have been visited by a bailiff in the last 2 years identify as vulnerable. With over 50% reporting depression and more reporting stress and anxiety. ¹ So, we know how scary it can be.

Don’t worry! We’ll share our knowledge with you, based on real facts. Let’s dive in to help you get back in control of the situation.

How Long Do They Leave Between Visits?

A bailiff must wait 7 full days between the Notice of Enforcement and visiting your home.

After the first visit, they can come back as often as they like to try and collect the debt. If you have bailiffs going to your home repeatedly or even every day, you can make a complaint for harassment. I go through the complaints process below.

Your Rights

If you’ve been visited by bailiffs, it’s important to understand your rights. This way, you’ll prevent unfair treatment and stressful situations.

Here’s a quick table that explains what bailiffs can and can’t do. If you’d like to learn more about your rights, be sure to read our detailed guide.

Bailiffs Can	But They Can’t
Call and visit your home multiple times, any day of the week.	Visit your workplace (if you are not self-employed)
Take items from your home. These items have to be considered ‘luxury’.	Take essential items from your home. This includes beds, clothing, and work equipment.
Use ANPR technology and DVLA information to locate your car and take it.	Enter your home without permission unless they have a warrant to force entry for a CCJ.
Peacefully enter your property.	Harass or threaten you.
Issue notices to those who owe a debt.	Take items that belong to someone else. However, they may be able to seize jointly owned property.
Offer to conduct a Virtual Controlled Goods Agreement (rather than in-person). This will typically be offered to vulnerable people.	Sell goods they have seized at auction until seven clear days have passed.

What to Do When They Visit

You should be able to speak to the enforcement agents without letting them into your property.

Keep in mind that if the visitor is a debt collector, you can tell them to leave your property. Debt collectors don’t have the same enforcement powers that bailiffs have.

I have a useful article sharing advice when dealing with debt collectors. Please take a few minutes to learn more about debt collectors and how they can collect the money you owe.

How to Confirm their ID

Our financial expert, Janine Marsh, advises on letting a bailiff into your home: ‘It’s crucial you check who they say are before you open your door. Ask for their certificate through the letterbox or a window.’

Authenticity verification is something that, in my experience, not enough people know about.

[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/guidance-on-bailiff-and-enforcement-officer-scam]

A bailiff should have an ID and you can ask about the company they’re working for. Additionally, you can ask to see an enforcement agent certificate. Remember to keep the door closed during this time.

Once you have the ID or document you can check it’s genuine using the following methods.

County Court, Civilian Enforcement Officers, and Family Court Bailiffs

Contact the court that sent the bailiffs to your house and confirm their ID.

High court Enforcement Officers

Check their ID using the High Court Enforcement Officers Association website.

Certified Enforcement Agents

Confirm their ID by visiting the Certificated Bailiff Register.

You can instruct them to leave if you’re unable to confirm their identity. Phone 999 if they refuse to leave or if they’re harassing you.

How to Prepare for a Visit

Prepare for the enforcement agents to visit if you’re unable to contact the head office to organise repayment of the debt.

Prepare by ensuring the whole household is aware of the upcoming visit. Let everyone know not to let them in and to keep all doors locked. Furthermore, ensure your car or cars are in a garage or parked far away from your property.

Learn more about your rights when dealing with bailiffs in the articles I’ve shared below. Remember, not to let them in, keep your doors locked, and don’t accept any harassment.

Can They Force Entry to My Home?

Whether or not a bailiff can force entry to your home depends on the type of debt they’re collecting. Bailiffs can request entry by contacting a locksmith to let them into your property once granted that legal authority by the courts. You can organise the repayment of the debt before the bailiffs get to this point.

A bailiff can force entry for the following reasons:

• They are collecting for magistrates court fines/unpaid criminal fines
• They are collecting a tax debt for the HMRC

They cannot force entry to your home without showing you a warrant or a writ and proof of what you owe. Ask the bailiff to post these documents through your letterbox.

Check over the documents to confirm all the information is correct, including your name and address. Another thing to check is whether the document is signed and dated. If the document is missing any of these details, or contains incorrect information, ask the bailiff to leave.

Bailiffs cannot force entry to your home for any other reason than those listed above. Forced entry isn’t permitted if they’re collecting for debts such as credit cards, council tax arrears, money owned to energy suppliers, phone companies, and even unpaid parking tickets.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Can They Take Everything?

No, bailiffs can’t take everything in your house. There are strict rules on what bailiffs are allowed to remove from your property and what are classed as exempted items.

Things bailiffs just can’t take include:

• Things that belong to someone else, including things that belong to your children
• Things that you need for your job – including vehicles or tools – or things that you need to study – like a computer
• A Motability vehicle or any vehicle with a valid Blue Badge displayed
• Any pets or guide dogs.

Bailiffs also can’t take things that are essential for your ‘basic domestic needs.’ This means that, as a minimum, they need to leave you with:

• Beds and bedding for everyone in your home
• A cooker or microwave and fridge
• A phone or mobile phone
• A washing machine
• A table with enough chairs for everyone in your home
• All medicine or medical equipment that you need to care for a child or older person.

While bailiffs can take things that are permanently attached or fitted to your home, they can’t remove them if they will cause significant damage. This generally means things like kitchen units aren’t removed by bailiffs.

Any of the debt charities listed at the bottom of this page will be able to give you a comprehensive breakdown of what bailiffs can and can’t take.

Sometimes, you need to be very aware of your rights because they might try to take things that they shouldn’t.

Technically this is theft!

If you are in a similar situation, contact a debt charity immediately. Some have specialist bailiff departments who will be able to advise you on the best next steps.

Arrange a Payment to Stop Them From Visiting Your Home

You have time to stop bailiffs from returning to your home by organising the repayment of the debt or negotiating debt repayments that you can afford.

Tell the bailiff that you intend to speak to their head office to arrange payment. Ask the bailiff to leave. If they refuse to leave, you have the right to make an official complaint about the bailiffs and contact the police for help.

Can I get a Debt Solution?

You might be able to get a debt solution to prevent bailiffs from visiting your home.

There are several different debt solutions available in the UK, so I recommend speaking to a debt charity as soon as possible. Their advisors will be able to look at your finances in detail and help you work out which debt solution will work best for you.

I have linked a few charities that offer these advisory services for free below.

Debt Management Plan (DMP)

A DMP is an informal debt solution that lets you pay off your debts via a single monthly payment.

Because it is informal, it is not legally binding so you are not tied into a DMP for a minimum number of payments.

Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

An IVA is a formal agreement between you and your creditors. You agree to pay a monthly sum that is distributed amongst your debts, and your creditors agree not to contact you during your IVA.

IVAs typically last for 5 or 6 years, and any outstanding debt is wiped off when it ends.

Keep in mind that IVAs are not suitable for everyone. You need to owe several thousand pounds to more than one creditor to be eligible. You also need to demonstrate that you have some disposable income every month.

Trust Deed

IVAs are not available in Scotland. Instead, you will need to opt for a Trust Deed.

Trust Deeds work in the same way as an IVA – you pay an agreed sum each month that is shared amongst your creditors, they can’t contact you, and any leftover debt at the end of your Trust Deed term is written off.

Debt Relief Order (DRO)

A DRO is a good option for those facing financial hardship with no assets and little income.

For 12 months, you make no payments, but your creditors freeze your interest and don’t contact you.

If your finances haven’t improved during this year, you may be able to write off your unsecured debts.

Bankruptcy

If you have debts but no realistic possibility of ever paying them off, you may need to declare bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy has an unfair stigma attached to it as it may be your only way of getting a financial fresh start. That said, it is a serious financial situation that should not be taken lightly.

Sequestration

Sequestration is the Scottish version of bankruptcy.

If you have little income and no valuable assets, you may be able to apply for a minimal asset process bankruptcy (MAP). A MAP is a quicker, cheaper, and more straightforward version of sequestration, so worth considering.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

How do I Complain?

If you think that a bailiff has behaved inappropriately, you can make a complaint.

Make your first complaint to the bailiff’s company so that they have the chance to sort out the issue themselves. But if you think that their response or the way that they dealt with the complaint was insufficient, you can escalate matters.

You can make a secondary complaint to a regulatory body, such as the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA).

Bodies like CIVEA produce rules and guidance for companies to help protect the public from unprofessional behaviour or unfair practices. They can also investigate your concerns or complaint and let you know of their findings and proposed solutions if appropriate.

You might need to contact ta debt charity to work out which complaints procedure you need to follow.

References

1. StepChange – Creditor and Debt Collector Conduct